Nokia's 10-inch Windows RT tablet could debut at MWC: Report

Nokia is reportedly set to resume work on a 10-inch Windows RT tablet that may be unveiled as early as MWC in February, a report in Digitimes has revealed.

Nokia originally planned to develop a 10-inch Windows RT tablet equipped with Qualcomm's S4 processor in first-quarter 2012, with Compal to undertake ODM production and initial shipments of 200,000 units to test the market, the sources indicated. But because Microsoft later announced Surface, and the market for Windows 8/RT tablets needed to be proven, Nokia internally focused on smartphones, and delayed the development of the 10-inch Windows RT tablet, the sources pointed out.

This is not the first time we've seen the Nokia tablet being mentioned. Back in March, when asked about Nokia's tablet plans, design chief Marko Ahtisaari had said they were "working on it". Later, Frank Nuovo, the former chief designer at Nokia, revealed that in late 1990s - much before the iPad became the smash hit that it is - Nokia had secretly developed a tablet computer with a wireless connection and touch screen.

Again in September, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said, "We have not announced any tablets, but I think the opportunity is very clear. People today increasingly are looking for a common digital experience between their smartphone and tablet, with a PC, and with their gaming platform, and so there's clearly an opportunity across there. This is something that we're looking at very closely."

Elop further stated that the timing for the new tablet launch couldn't have been more perfect, courtesy its tie-up with Microsoft and the then impending launch of Windows 8, which is optimised for touch-devices. "Microsoft is introducing Windows 8 as well for PCs and tablets in the months ahead; same user experience, except taken to a larger screen size, one big family, and therefore many people around the world will gain experience with what we're doing. So, it's a very, very exciting time for us."

For full coverage of the Mobile World Congress from Barcelona, visit our MWC 2015 page.